Roger Allam cast in Limehouse at the Donmar Warehouse

Roger Allam has been cast in Steve Waters’ new drama Limehouse which opens at the Donmar in March.

Limehouse imagines what happened when the so-called 'Gang of Four' met in 1981 to break away form the Labour party and form the Social Democratic Party. The four politicians were Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams, and the play gets its name form the Limehouse Declaration which the group issued to signal their intent to break away from Labour.

Allam, who won an Olivier for his role in Privates on Parade at the Donmar, will play Jenkins. Tom Goodman-Hill will play Owen, Paul Chahidi plays Rogers and Debra Gillett will play Williams.

The cast also includes Nathalie Armin as Owen's wife Debbie.

The play will be directed by Polly Findlay (The Alchemist, RSC) and it will open on 8 March.

Limehouse will run at the Donmar Warehouse from 8 March to 15 April, with previews from 2 March.